Mark Andy wins FTA Technical Innovation Award

Mark Andy’s integrated RFID tag insertion system is the recipient of the 2006 Technical Innovation Award from the Flexographic Technical Association (FTA). Presentation of the award was made Sunday in Louisville, KY, USA, at the Foundation of FTA’s Annual Forum.

“We feel proud and humble” to have won the FTA award, said Mark Andy President Paul Brauss. “One of the hardest aspects of the work with RFID is taking what is known technically and presenting it in a solution format whereby a converter can yield a profit.”

Mark Andy’s technology uses one machine and one integrated workflow to achieve in-line print production and converting. The process includes insertion of inlays, verification of qualified labels and removal of defective pieces. A single Mark Andy RFID solution consists of an RFID inlay insertion unit; an RFID in-press reader; static elimination equipment; and/or offline readers and inspection equipment. Outfitting a press with the complete RFID label system, costs between $250,000 and $500,000, depending on level of sophistication.

Mark Andy’s RFID-equipped press can accommodate up to two RFID tags in one pass, meaning that a higher rate of throughput is possible. To date, the company has supplied more than a dozen presses for producing passive RFID-enabled labels. Mark Andy’s headquarters is in Chesterfield, MO, USA.